Some really fantastic updates here man!

Your signings are also proving to be quality. Lazio for the Scudetto this season then?

Good luck!

Lazio 3 FC Basel 0
Ince (1)
Candreva (27, 33)

The two favourites to qualify from Europa League Group B met at the Olimpico in Rome and people would probably have expected a tighter game. Both teams had won their opening games and battled for the right to take top spot in the group.

Lazio and Basel both fielded strong teams but it was Lazio who attacked straight from kick off. Lucas Biglia got a start in midfield in the place of Motta and the Argentine bruiser started off a clever move to give the sky blues the lead. Biglia played a cute one-two with Lulic before slipping the ball through a gap in the defence to Ince, who nestled the ball into the top corner from 8 yards out.

Lazio's attack continued to test the Swiss team's back-line and in the 27th minute, Tom Ince picked the ball up in his own half and drove at the full-back Behrang Safari down the left. Ince left Safari for dead and delivered a bending ball into the box that avoided the heads of the defence to find Candreva galloping in at the back post. Number 87 buried the ball into the net passed the despairing Germano Vailati.

A silly foul from Ivory Coast midfielder Serey Die on the edge on the Basel 18 yard box saw Candreva place the ball down and calmly caress a free kick into the far corner out of the goalkeeper's reach. Lazio had 3 goals in 35 minutes minutes and from that point were happy to sit back and allow Basel to control possession. Cox threw on promising youngsters Felipe Anderson and Balde Keita just after half time as Lazio continued to keep Basel at arms length.

In the 62nd minute, Switzerland favourite Marco Streller broke into the box and had his shirt pulled by Stefan Radu as he took aim at goal. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz stepped up for the penalty but Marchetti made a sprawling save down to his left to cap off a bad day at the office for FC Basel, and another pleasing victory for SS Lazio.



Empoli 1 Lazio 4
Klose (30, 32, pen)
Candreva (39, 90+2)
Maccarone (54)

It took 10 first half minutes for Lazio to kill this game off as the Biancocelesti took top spot in Serie A for the first time this season. Empoli sat 3rd coming into this game after an impressive start to the season.

The game was nicely poised in the first half an hour as both teams got into their rhythm. On 30 minutes, Lazio won a soft free kick just in front of the half way line. The Empoli defence set-up expecting a hail mary pass from Antonio Candreva, and the Italian delivered. Lobbing the ball up-field into the sea of dark and light blue shirts. It was number 11 that rose the highest as Miroslav Klose out-jumped the Azzurri defenders and buried a header beyond Davide Bassi.

2 minutes later Albanian full-back Elseid Hysaj was all over Tom Ince as they waited for a cross to come into the box. The referee didn't hesitate to award Lazio a penalty for the infringement despite Hysaj's protests. Klose stepped up to hammer in his 5th goal of the season in Serie A and give Lazio a 2-0 lead.

In the 39th minute Stefano Mauri and Thiago Motta were playing passes to each other in the middle of the field as they searched for an opening. Mauri did to devastating effect as the Lazio captain zipped a through ball into the pass of the onrushing Candreva who hammered a shot into the far corner from outside the box, a player in form and full of confidence.

Massimo Maccarone pulled one back as he headed in from a corner in the 54th minute to score his 7th goal of the season. The 34 year old is enjoying a good run of form while on-loan from Sampdoria. However the goal of the game came in the last minute of the 90. Lazio were awarded a corner and as the players took up their positions, Candreva bent the set piece into the far corner, lobbing the goalkeeper and Lorenze Tonelli who was covering the back post. The goal was the clear winner of Serie A goal of the month and a testament to the blistering start to the season the Italian winger has had. With Napoli dropping points at Palermo, Lazio take a 2 point lead at the top of the table.



Lazio 2 Palermo 0
Radu (13)
Bellusci (19)

It was the day of the defenders at the Olimpico as Lazio brushed off Palermo in Serie A. Lazio were looking to keep up their recent good form and maintain their lead at the top of the league.

Lazio's first goal was a standard training ground routine as Candreva whipped in a bending corner, but it was not Klose or Ince who were on the end of it like most weeks since Cox started his reign. Romanian centre back Stefan Radu rose highest and nodded the ball past Emiliano Viviano, who maybe could have done better, to take the lead in the 13th minute.

However in the 19th minute, Viviano could not do anything about the second goal. Palermo defended another Lazio corner well and the ball fell to Daniele Bonera. The veteran defender drove into the box and laid the ball off to fellow centre back Giuseppe Bellusci who curled a left footed wonder goal into the top right hand corner. A goal any striker would be proud of. This goal incidentally, finished second in Serie A goal of the month behind Candreva's effort the previous week.

Lazio registered 38 shots on goal all game but found Viviano in solid form who was able to repel Candreva, Ince and Klose on numerous occasions. It was indeed the defence that did all the work at the Olimpico on a good day for the Biancocelesti.



Lazio 3 NK Maribor 0
Radu (7)
Candreva (43)
Biglia (59)

Lazio could put themselves in a commanding position heading in to the final 3 games of the Europa League group stage. With Maribor being bottom of the group, I felt confident that a little bit of squad rotation would be healthy and that we still had the strength in depth to win. Berisha, Cana, Candava, Lulic, Felipe Anderson, Biglia and Keita replaced Marchetti, Bonera, Darmian, Cole, Mauri, Motta and Klose respectively.

Despite the Slovenians slightly edging possession overall, they were restricted to just one shot in the entire game, which was off-target. In the 7th minute, we started strongly and got the inevitable opening goal. Stefan Radu hit his 2nd goal in two games as he rose highest to head in a corner from Senad Lulic.

Our second goal came when Maribor full-back Marko Hadzic dawdled on the ball in his own box for to long. The Slovenian tried to turn away from Tom Ince twice and on the third attempt was dispossessed by the England U21 winger, who squared for Candreva to tap in from close range.

In the second half we took our foot off the gas but managed to find a way through the defence. 18 year old Spaniard Balde Keita played a clever reverse through ball to the onrushing Lucas Biglia who drilled low past the goalkeeper when played in on goal.

The win puts us top of Group B with 3 wins out of 3. FC Basel sit 2nd with 6 points, while Wigan and Maribor sit bottom with 1 point apiece, the Championship side 3rd because of goal difference. We travel to Slovenia to play the same fixture next month with a win meaning we will have secured a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.



Fiorentina 2 Lazio 2
Rebic (30)
Pasqual (36)
Ince (60)
Bonera (70)

Fiorentina came flying out of the blocks at a rainy Artemio Franchi. With Germans leading the line for both sides, it was Mario Gomez who was the first to test the opposite goalkeeper. Gomez cut inside from 20 yards and bent a shot that looked destined for the far corner, but Marchetti was at full stretch to get fingertips on the goal-bound effort. Klose was next to chance his arm as he fizzed a shot straight at Brazilian Neto, but the 'keeper could only parry the shot back into the crowded box. Luckily for La Viola, there was no Lazio man able to get on the end of the rebound.

It was Fiorentina who took the lead with a world class strike from Croatian Internatonal, Ante Rebic. Rebic had time on the left wing and with men in the box decided to go for goal, it looked like the wrong decision but the ball dipped at the last second and snuck under the crossbar, leaving Federico Marchetti left with a look of disbelief and despair on his face. Obviously still shocked from the opening goal, Lazio conceded another 6 minutes later. Rebic this time the creator, jinking through the Biancocelesti defence and unselfishly squaring the ball for captain Manuel Pasqual to tap in uncontested. Lazio had a mountain to climb for the second half as the Fiorentina machine was purring.

Cox made one change at half time and threw on Lulic in place of Ashley Cole to add an extra attacking dimension to his team. Lazio rallied and within 15 minutes had their first goal back. Matteo Darmian whipping in a good ball, something Serie A fans are used to so far this season, that Tom Ince managed to get on the end of and slide into the back of the net.

Daniele Bonera completed the comeback 10 minutes later as Candreva who was unusually quiet during the game crossed in from a corner, it was Bonera who wanted it most. The Milan loanee rose above Stafen Savic and powered in his header. The celebrations from the 16 times capped Italian centre back showed the relief of the Lazio fans and his manager as Bonera came to greet Matt Cox who offered him an embrace along with some of the substitutes. Lazio pressed for the equalizer but couldn't find the winning goal but can't be to annoyed with themselves as battling back from 2-0 down shows the grit and character that new manager Cox has installed in them.


It has been another fantastic month for us. We are now 3 points clear at the top of Serie A after 9 games and unbeaten so far in the league. We are also top of Group B in the Europa League and one win from qualifying for the next round.

We actually have one more game this month, but like the final game of last month against Napoli, it is another cracker. We play AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico for my first game as manager in the Rome Derby. Roma now sit 3rd and are 3 points behind us in joint 2nd with Napoli and they can go top of the table with a win so this will be an even more important derby for the capital than usual. There will be another special news article analyzing the Roma game so I hope you all enjoy it and have enjoyed the review for this month. Hopefully we can secure our place at the summit of Serie A and keep our unbeaten record!

Star Man Of The Month: Antonio Candreva

Thanks AS4! I'm glad you've enjoyed it. Fingers crossed we can bring some silverware home in my first season, I didn't think we'd start so well!

Some very detailed match reports! Great results too!

New Lazio banner if you wanted it :

[IMG]https://fmshots.com/bk/9u4xnsU.gif[/IMG]

Lazio 2 Roma 0
Klose (22, 51)
Radu (90, sent off)
De Rossi (90+2, sent off)

11 yellow cards were shared out in an aggressive first Rome derby of the 2013/14 season. It was also English manager Matt Cox's first time in charge of Lazio during a della Capitale Derby and it was one to remember as not only did the Biancocelesti put their Serie A rivals to the sword, but it also meant that they secured top spot in the league as rivals Napoli could only draw with Atalanta meaning Cox's men took a 5 point lead at the summit.

Lazio started the brightest as Darmian and Cole looked to exploit any space on the flanks and allow Candreva and Ince room to work their magic but their wasn't a shot on goal to report until the 16th minute. It was former Arsenal winger Gervinho who tested Marchetti in the Lazio goal with a low effort which the Italian managed to tip wide. It was Lazio's turn to attack next as Candreva won corner off Leandro Castan who looked shaky throughout. It was Candreva who delivered the ball directly onto the head of Romanian captain Stefan Radu who did well to loop a header onto the top of the crossbar.

60 seconds later the ball was in the back of the net. Candreva slotted a through ball behind the Roma defence to release Matteo Darmian down the right wing. The wing back initially tried a shot which was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for him to bend in a quick cross that powerful German Miroslav Klose fired into the back of Morgan De Sanctis' net. The Giallorossi defence could just stand and stare as Klose planted the header beyond the 'keeper for his 6th goal of the Serie A campaign.

It was Lazio again that looked the most threatening after the restart. Tom Ince combined on the left wing with countryman Ashley Cole and played a deft chip into the box which the former England international raced on to. Cole got the pass under control and rifled a volley against the frame of the goal. The crossbar was still shaking as Roma missed their chance to equalize. The Giallorossi countered and Dutch playmaker Kevin Strootman who has been a reported target for Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United in the January transfer window, played the ball to Francesco Totti who expertly turned taking Daniele Bonera out of the game and putting him one-on-one with Marchetti. The Roma number 10 spewed the shot uncharacteristically wide as Roma's best chance to score evaporated.

After the restart Roma looked blunt and out of options up front as Lazio started to turn the screw as they searched for a second goal. Their confidence was underlined by the fact that Antonio Candreva spotted De Sanctis off his line from 40 yards out. The Azzurri winger attempted to lob the scrambling goalkeeper with a deft chip that would have been a superb goal if it was a couple of inches lower.

However 6 minutes after the start of the 2nd half, Lazio struck. It was Darmian again who supplied the goal as he turned on the burners and skipped passed Balzaretti and whipped in a Beckham-esque ball right into the path of Klose who took one touch and neatly placed a half-volley into De Santis' top corner.

After the goals Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan and Klose exchanged a hand-full of half chances but there were no more clear cut chances in the game as the match began to turn more into a brawl. Radu who had already been booked chased down Totti and clipped the Roma captain's heels and was given his marching orders ensuing mass hysteria on the pitch as all 22 players got involved in an ugly mess of disagreement. The frustration continued to boil over as Daneiel De Rossi upended goal-hero Klose with an ugly tackle. This guaranteed the Italian hothead his second booking and forced the referee to wisely blow the whistle for full time.

Lazio will be happy none-the-less as the win puts them 5 points clear at the top of Serie A as Matt Cox enjoys a fantastic start to life in Italy as his team remain unbeaten. Lazio travel to Verona this weekend as they look to tighten their grip on top spot.

Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Bellusci, Radu, Bonera, Darmian, Motta, Mauri (C), Ince, Candreva, Klose.
Roma: De Sanctis, Balzaretti, Benetia, Castan, Maicon, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Strootman, Bastos, Gervinho, Totti (C).

nice win mate!

Verona 0 Lazio 0
Cana (75, sent off)

We were extremely wasteful as we missed SIX clear chances to score. One on ones, close range shots, nothing was going in for us. The only positive was that we kept the defence tight and restricted Verona to only one shot in the game.

However title rivals Napoli won 3-1 against Latina meaning our lead was cut to 3 points.

Verona: Mihaylov, Pilud, Maietta (C), Marques, Antonelli, Donati, Romulo, Hallfredsson, Iturbe, Marquinho, Toni.
Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Cavanda, Darmian, Cana, Bonera, Mauri (C), Motta, Ince, Candreva, Klose.



Lazio 2 NK Maribor 0
Gonzalez (17)
Ince (41, pen)

Lazio managed to secure their place in the Europe League knockout round with a 2-0 win over Maribor. The Slovenian outfit are now unable to progress from the group after the loss and look likely to finish bottom due to their terrible goal difference.

I made significant changes to the squad with Ince, Bellusci, Radu and Darmian the only regular starters who played in this game. We gave our usual dominant performance and restricted Maribor to not even managing to have a single shot in the game which I was extremely pleased with.

It was the first game that I used Uruguayan playmaker Gonzalez this season and he didn't disappoint. He is quite a bullish player but also very skillful and has attracted interest from Roberto Martinez at Everton as we near December and the January transfer window. Belgian wing back Luis Cavanda who has been consistently impressive whenever I have called him into the team, set up the first goal as he played a clever reverse pass that Gonzalez hit first time straight into the top corner.

It was Candava who set up the second goal and earnt his second assist of the night as he was brought down in the box during a corner. Tom Ince stepped up and buried the resulting spot kick to guarantee our spot in the knockout rounds.

Lazio: Berisha, Lulic, Darmian, Radu, Bellusci, Cavanda, Ledesma (C), Biglia, Ince, Gonzalez, Keita.
Maribor: Handanovic, Hadzic, Kozar, Arghus, Matijasevic, Bolcina, Ceppelini, Klebcar, Zurej, Tavares (C), Mendy.



Lazio 1 Genoa 1
Konate (17)
Bonera (42)

18th placed Genoa visited the Olimpico and despite being in the relegation zone, gave us a scare as we looked to put some distance between Napoli and ourselves. It was also battle of the two top scorers as Miroslav Klose faced Alberto Gilardino. Klose hitting 7 in the league this year and Gilardino notching 9. Motta and Mauri were suspended for the game after picking up 5 yellow cards each.

Despite the attention being on to the two veteran strikers, it was Moussa Konate who was giving our defence something to think about. The 20 year old Senegalese striker really worried the back five with his running and physical presence. His pressure paid off in the 17th minute as he barged passed Giuseppe Bellusci and buried a venomous strike when one-on-one with Marchetti.

We tried to get into our usual rhythm but Italian wonderkid Mattia Perin was in inspiring form in the Genoa net as he stopped Candreva on several occasions. Konate looked constantly lively and made sure the defence stayed on their toes but eventually we found the equalizer. Candreva whipped in a corner and on-loan centre back Daniele Bonera climbed highest to final put a goal on the board.

We were unable to find a second goal and after the break Bonera managed to keep Konate quiet. The draw leaves us only 1 point clear at the summit of Serie A as Napoli picked up a win at mid-table Udinese.

Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Darmian, Bellusci, Radu, Bonera (C), Biglia, Felipe Anderson, Ince, Candreva, Klose.
Genoa: Perin, De Maio, Gamberini, Portanova (C), Motta, Bertolacci, Cofie, De Ceglie, Konate, Gilardino, Calaio.



Lazio 3 Wigan 2
Ince (17, pen)
Lulic (36)
McKay (45+1, 90)
Keita (88)

In our penultimate Europa League Group game, Wigan gave us another great match. Uwe Rosler's men still had everything to play for as a win would keep them in touch with 2nd place FC Basel heading in to the final group game. As we had nothing to play for I gave the fringe players a run out and a chance to impress me as they matched the 3-2 scoreline we played out with Wigan in England last month.

Despite the game essentially being a runout for my reserves, they battled hard and took a 2-0 lead in 36 minutes. Ince dispatching a penalty and Lulic scoring a simple tap in after good work from my young Spanish star Balde Keita.

Billy McKay hit back just before half time but in a tight second half, Keita hit his 1st goal for the club two minutes from time. McKay hit a consolation with seconds to go but there wasn't time to continue as Mr. Weiz blew his whistle and Wigan were eliminated from the competition.

Lazio: Berisha, Lulic, Ciani, Dias, Cana, Cavanda, Felipe Anderson, Padoin, Ince, Gonzalez (C), Keita.
Wigan: Carson, Whittaker, Barnett, Ramis (C), Taylor, Perch, Maloney, McClean, Watson, Fortune, McKay.


I have blogged up until halfway into the month because there will be a 2 week break for international duty. We restart our campaign away at Juventus on the 23rd so this gives us a chance at revenge after losing the Italian Super Cup to the reigning Serie A Champions.

It hasn't been a great start to the month but we've had a lot of games in a short space of time. I'm extremely happy that we have qualified from our group with ease in the Europa League and that we have extended our unbeaten run to 19 games. But the two draws against two teams in the bottom 5 were not good enough. We seem to have taken our foot off the gas and that is unacceptable as our position in the league right now is to good to throw away. Our next two league games are Juventus (A) and AC Milan (H) so we must regain our concentration as it will be extremely hard to remain unbeaten against two of Italy's giants.

I sat and watched William Tillson lead a post-game day fitness session on the spin bikes with the players who started against Wigan yesterday. I had given the rest of the players the day off as tomorrow the majority of them would leave to meet up with their respective national teams.

There was a knock on the door and Lazio president Claudio Lotito's PA Angela entered, she caught the squad's attention as she smiled showing her porcelain teeth glistening against her olive tanned skin and silky black hair. It doesn't take a genius to see why Lotito employees her.

Angela: Signor Cox, Signor Lotito would like to see you in his office please.

I raised a hand and shot a smile to William and excused myself from the gymnasium, following Angela down the corridors of Lazio's Formello training facility. Lotito's office was situated at the very back of the complex, Angela made small talk about the clubs recent success as we walked.

She entered the office and ushered me through the door. Claudio Lotito rose from his swivel chair with a smile and offered me his hand.

Lotito: Ciao Matt. How are the boys today?

The Lazio president was your average looking Italian entrepreneur, smartly dressed in a dark Armani suit and thin rimmed spectacles and his grey hair combed perfectly back.

Me: They're superb, everyone is in a positive mood right now. How are you keeping? Is the family well?

Lotito: Everything is good my friend thank you. Now let us talk... What are your plans for the next week and a half during the break?

Me: I plan on catching Italy's friendly with South Korea with Roberto Mancini. (Roberto and I stayed close friends since my internship at Man City. He guided me and is practically the reason I am manager of Lazio today. Plus he is my go-to guy for suit shopping, Roberto has a fantastic knowledge of fashion.) Then I will be heading to Canada for a week with my wife to spend some time with her family.

President Lotito stood from his seat and opened a small cabinet door that was camoflauged behind his desk. He produced two crystal tumblers and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label - my favourite whiskey.

Lotito: We must toast. You have masterminded our recent good form and I hope it continues.

We clinked glasses and I took a swig of the woody liquor.

Lotito: I'm not going to beat around the bush Matt...

Mr Lotito opened his top drawer and placed a two-sheet document in front of me.

Lotito: I've spoken to the board and we want to renew your contract, this is a 2 year extension with a £2000 per week pay rise. You don't have to say anything now, take a copy away with you and talk with your wife. Give me your answer in the next few weeks. If there is anything you wish to discuss; a potential signing, staff, anything... then don't hesitate to ask.

Me: I'm flatted Signor Lotito. I will definitely take this away with me and put some thought in to it. I want to stay with Lazio, you've given me my big opportunity and I appreciate it massively.

Lotito was beaming...

Me: I was wondering if we could set up a link with a team to increase our profile in another country? I could talk with my contacts in MLS and arrange a meeting?

Lotito: I have no problem with that, the extra exposure in the USA would benefit us greatly. I have made some bad choices in my time here as president, I know the fans will be happy if you sign.

Claudio Lotito's relationship with the Lazio faithful was rocky to say the least. The fans had staged protests against the president as he had made some bad calls, mainly the hasty sacking of managers and selling Hernanes to Inter Milan a week before I came in.

This would be a decision he would not regret...

Some amazing updates here, great detail too!

Cheers Josh, I'm glad you're enjoying it. Appreciate the praise!

10 Man Lazio Down Italian Champions

Juventus 0 Lazio 1
Bellusci (67, sent off)
Klose (86)

In the first Serie A game after the return from the international break, Lazio showed that their tremendous start to the season was no flash in the pan today as they beat Serie A Champions Juventus 1-0 at the Juventus Stadium, Turin.

Juve have had a terrible start to the season and found themselves in 8th place in the league as rumours that Antonio Conte's position as manager faces serious pressure. There has even been talk that the Bianconeri could stick with Conte until the end of the season and should the Turin club's fortune not turn around, that he will be replaced with Lazio manager Matt Cox, regarding that he continue his success at the Biancocelesti.

The Roman club were looking to secure their position at the top of the division and maintain their 3 point cushion over Napoli, but it was the current champions who started the brighter and looked their usual selves as midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo - whose form has been inconsistent so far this season - pulled the strings from his role behind the midfield.

Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic had two clear chances but failed to even test Federico Marchetti with either, as their close range shots were wildly off target. Juventus again probed and it should have been 1-0 when Arturo Vidal was played clear through by Asamoah. Vidal instead of shooting unselfishly played a ball to Paul Pogba to leave Marchetti in the Lazio goal stranded, but the French international dawdled on the ball and with an open goal at his mercy, allowed Daniele Bonera to get back and chop the ball away from him.

Italy captain Gigi Buffon was ruled out before the game with an ankle injury so Brazilian 'keeper Rubinho got his first start of the season. However his game was cut short just before half time as he collided with his own teammate Angelo Ogbonna meaning 18 year old Leonardo Citti was thrown on for his first team debut.

With no other real chances of note in the first half the teams went in level with Juventus feeling they should already have gotten control of this game. After a tight first 20 minutes of the second half, Giuseppe Bellusci was given a straight red card for a lunge on Carlos Tevez who was sent clear through on goal by Pirlo. It was a clear professional foul and many believed that would signal the floodgates would open for Juventus. However Englishman Matt Cox tweaked his tactics and introduced Lorik Cana and Alvaro Gonzalez and managed to hold the Old Lady at bay, looking dangerous on the counter attack and making a nervous looking Citti work with a couple of shots on goal.

With the game looking like it would end in a draw and a well earned point for Lazio, the Sky Blues broke away one last time as Klose headed on a long ball to Ashley Cole. The ex-England international made his way into the corner in Juventus' half as he searched for options. Klose was on hand to receive the ball 30 yards out. The German looked up for options before bending an unstoppable drive into the top corner beyond Citti's dive, a goalazo not even Buffon would have saved.

Juventus looked shellshocked and failed to break down Lazio's back line in the final 5 minutes as the Biancocelesti maintained their unbeaten run in the league and made Antonio Conte's job at Juventus look very insecure. Lazio host AC Milan next while Juventus look to turn their season around at Chievo.

Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Bellusci, Radu, Bonera, Darmian, Motta, Mauri (C), Ince, Candreva, Klose.
Juventus: Rubinho, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Chiellini (C), Isla, Vidal, Asamoah, Pogba, Pirlo, Vucinic, Tevez.

A great first story and great results, nice to see my fav player klose scoring many goals!

Cheers CaptainBrickArms, Klose is a monster and he fits in perfectly with my tactic. I'm hoping he can carry me to the Scudetto!

Lazio Go 6 points Clear With Win Over Milan

Lazio 2 AC Milan 1
Ince (8)
Balotelli (9, pen)
Klose (34, pen)

Lazio extended their unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions and their lead at the top of the Serie A to 6 points as they dominated against Italian giants AC Milan. Milan have been in poor form this season and sit 7th as manager Filippo Inzaghi feels intense pressure in his first 6 months as the Rossoneri head coach.

Lazio downed Champions Juventus last week and now have outplayed and beaten AC Milan as they look to win their first Serie A title since 2000. Daniele Bonera has been a key part of Lazio's terrific form but was ineligible for the game due to him being on loan from Milan.

Lazio started with real belief and peppered Marco Amelia's with a couple of long range shots that tested the 'keeper who has been second best behind Christian Abbiati in recent years but has enjoyed a prolonged spell under Inzaghi. However, it only took 8 minutes for Lazio to break the deadlock. The Milan midfield gave Klose all the time in the world to pick a pass before the Rossoneri defence parted like the red sea and allowed the simplest of through balls to find Tom Ince who took one touch and rifled a shot into the roof of the net.

Straight from the restart Milan penetrated the Biancocelesti penalty area. Balotelli was set to pull the trigger but stand-in centre back Lorik Cana clattered into the Italian superstar and the referee didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot. Balotelli stepped up and brushed himself down before sending Marchetti the wrong way with a cooly dispatched penalty.

From that point on the game was one way traffic as Lazio dominated possession. Milan looked exhausted from chasing the play as the Roman club kept the ball from them and tore through the defence on multiple occasions. Antonio Candreva was at fault as the Italian winger could have had at least 5 goals as he missed chance after chance. Amelia was in fine form as he held his team together and kept the Red and Blacks in the game.

10 minutes before half time and 8 quality saves later, Lazio were awarded a penalty as Colombian centre back Cristian Zapata hacked down Miroslav Klose. Amelia couldn't continue his heroics as Klose cooly slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner. After half time it was all Lazio as Milan could only attempt to play long balls forward. Romanian powerhouse Stefan Radu was up to head away any danger constantly as Inzaghi's team looked spent of any ideas.

It was a scoreline that flattered Milan and the fans showed their unrest at full time as they booed the players off the pitch as Lazio celebrated another huge victory as Matt Cox's men remain unbeaten in Serie A this campaign.

Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Bellusci, Radu, Cana, Darmian, Motta, Mauri (C), Ince, Candreva, Klose.
AC Milan Amelia, De Sciglio, Rami (C), Zapata, Constant, Poli, De Jong, Menez, Honda, Robinho, Balotelli.